Currently, the WRC awards three separate sets of points. The largest haul is available at the end of Saturday evening, where conditional points are awarded to the top ten.
On Sunday, points are awarded based on the day’s performance, and additional points are available from the Power Stage, as previously.
Ogier collected 18 points on Saturday evening. In Sunday’s results, however, Ogier was only third and finished fourth in the Power Stage. Thus, Ogier’s total haul amounted to 25 points (18+5+2).
The runner-up in the event, Ott Tänak, was the top performer on Sunday and second in the Power Stage. Thus, Tänak secured one more point than Ogier in the gravel event, totalling 26 (15+7+4).
Thierry Neuville, who finished third in Portugal, collected almost as many points as the top two. The Belgian’s total reached 24 points at the end of the weekend (13+6+5).
Fewer points were available to other drivers. M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux’s total was 12 points, Hyundai’s Dani Sordo’s 11 points, and Toyota’s Elfyn Evans six points. Kalle Rovanperä, who retired on Saturday, had to settle for five points.
For the second time this season, the event winner scored fewer points than the runner-up. The points system has faced significant criticism early in the season, and Ogier once again voiced his opinion directly after Rally de Portugal.
“I’m very pleased to score some good points for the team because, unfortunately, we are still losing ground this weekend even if we are winning, which is further proof of the stupid point system we have. Four out of five results are wrong,” Ogier blasted.
Hyundai driver Neuville, on the other hand, strengthened his position at the top of the WRC standings. He now has a 24-point lead over Elfyn Evans, with five rounds completed in the season.
In the manufacturers’ championship, Hyundai gained 11 points more than Toyota in Portugal and moved to the top of the standings.
